Cowboys set to sling sustenance and song

Friday marks the beginning of a weekend filled with cowboy music and poetry, a Dutch oven cook-off and stick horse rodeo.

The 11th Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering kicks off Friday and runs into Sunday, open to anyone who wants to enjoy the festivities.

Gary McMahan, known for his original cowboy music and yodeling, will share the main stage with South Dakota poet Ken Cook and the Green River duo Many Strings.

Also expected to perform during the weekend are GT Hurley, Trinity Seeley, Steve Moulton, Ken Kreusel, Washtub Jerry, Ernie Martinez, Doc Mehl and Jason Swedlund.

This year’s events will begin with open mic music and poetry in Grand View Park in Encampment on Friday, followed by the campfire program. Both events will feature a variety of musicians, poets and anyone wanting to participate. The host of the event, Daron Little, is expected to debut some of his songs from his forthcoming album.

If you still haven’t had your fill of fun from music and poetry, a Dutch oven cook-off is slated for Saturday. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. with judging at 11 a.m. Contestants in adult and youth divisions will compete in three categories: main dish, bread and dessert. All ages are welcome to participate. There is no entry fee and cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entries for each category. Cooking will be held in Grand View Park For more information on the cook-off, contact Cheryl Munroe at 307-327-5421.

The Cowboy Outfit will hold the annual stick horse rodeo for children of all ages beginning at 11 a.m.

Saturday at Grand View Park. Cowboy music and poetry will be presented on the stage in the park beginning at noon with performances by the featured entertainers and several other artists.

Western Writers of America will assist in the Cowboy Gathering by selling books and CDs at Grand View Park. The Encampment-Riverside Lions Club will serve a free lunch at the park beginning at 11:30 a.m. An evening concert will be held at 7 p.m. at the Encampment School gym. Tickets for the evening show are $15 (tickets available at the door). Children 12 and younger can be admitted into the evening concert for free.

Cowboy Gathering memberships are also available with prices beginning at $25.

Following evening events, another less formal music and poetry jam session will be held at the campfire in Grand View Park.

A cowboy breakfast is scheduled for Sunday morning.

Sunday, after the cowboy breakfast, Ken and Becky Kreusel will conduct a cowboy church at 1 a.m. McMahan will follow with a presentation on how to yodel.

The Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering is organized by ranchers, musicians, poets and writers living in the Valley as a way to help preserve and promote cowboy and ranching culture.

For more information, call 307-327-5558, 307-327-5465 or visit http://www.grandencampmentgathering.org.